10 Dinner Party Themes Your Guests Will Love

Everyone has a favorite movie, book or play. So why not plan a dinner around yours? It certainly helps if your favorite has a strong food component, such as "Eat Pray Love," a movie which initially centers around pasta, or "Chocolat," a story about a female chocolatier.

But even if your favorite is the "Harry Potter" book series, it's not a problem. In fact, it might even be more fun. The books' butter beer, pumpkin juice, treacle tarts and cauldron cakes, just to name a few, would be fun to invent if you like to tinker in the kitchen. But you wouldn't have to do that; the series is so popular, lots of Web sites, including YumSugar.com, already created the recipes for you.

Still other movie/book/play themes -- "Casablanca," for example -- could center more around the decorations and ambience than the actual food served. With the movie playing, a sign reading Rick's Café over your dining area and classic cocktails ready upon guests' arrival, you'll be all set.

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

Dinner parties are more successful if you remember a few simple rules. Dinner parties are meant to be intimate, so don't host more than six to eight people; everyone should sit together at one table. Figure out a good mix of personalities to invite, and add in interesting friends who can help keep the conversation going (and someone who can help you in the kitchen if necessary).